Shipping: Routes with a lighter footprint now open
Work continues to bring us closer to our ambitious climate targets. We want to have halved our carbon emissions across all operations, including transport, by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2040. Ola Holgersson, Logistics Manager, explains the latest initiative, which also shows the advantage of our time-chartered (TC) vessels.
“Around half of Södra Cell’s pulp is shipped via vessel and approximately 70 percent of this is via one of three TC vessels which we lease via Braren Shipping, a partnership which started in 1970. We have three vessels; Cellus, Timbus and the most recent addition, Annika Braren, in operation for Södra since December 2021.
“The shipping company leases us the vessels but Södra has full control of their operation, we decide the routes and cover variable costs such as fuel. Timbus, for example, was designed exclusively for us so we know it is suited to ensuring that our pulp reaches customers in the pristine condition we expect. It’s not always the case if you’re sharing a vessel with other loads. Our agreement means we know the storage conditions on board are optimal for pulp – no rust or dirty holds, for example.
"Because we have such a close relationship with the shipping company, we were able to cooperate to trial a new fuel mix on Annika Braren. We’ve just finished trialling with 30 percent biofuel with very good results. Biofuel is produced from biomass such as, for example, plant residues, food waste or forest residues. By using biofuel, we will decrease our fossil greenhouse gas emissions. One idea is to bank the distances covered using biofuel for mass balance options as part of our Conscious delivery concept to our customers to help lower our customers’ own footprint in the process."
Johan Ågren, Shipping Manager: “Choosing our own fuel mix is one advantage but another is flexibility when it comes to route planning. We have much more flexibility to reroute in the event of a customer changing their requirements, for example, or if an issue arose at one of our own mills which might mean we wanted to change the loading location from one mill to another. Although the captain is on Braren’s payroll, we are in almost daily contact so we waste no time in resolving whatever issues may come up. It all adds up to peace of mind for the customer, and now also the option of lower emissions via Conscious delivery.”
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